Hydrangea plant named ‘HIFIR’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘HIFIR’, characterized by its upright and broadly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; strong and sturdy stems; freely and continuous flowering habit; large and dense inflorescences with red to red purple-colored sterile flowers; and good post-production longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HIFIR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla, commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HIFIR’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new sturdy and strong Hydrangea plants with attractive inflorescences and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination in April, 2013 of two unnamed proprietary selections of Hydrangea macrophylla, not patented. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in April, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by terminal vegetative cuttings since June, 2015 in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HIFIR’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HIFIR’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright and broadly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Strong and sturdy stems.     -   4. Freely and continuous flowering habit.     -   5. Large and dense inflorescences with red to red purple-colored         sterile flowers.     -   6. Good post-production longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the parent selections. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are sturdier than plants of the         parent selections.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have longer postproduction         longevity than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can also be compared to plants of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Hot Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differed primarily from plants of ‘Hot Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Hydrangea are darker green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘Hot Red’.     -   2. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are sturdier         than sterile flowers of plants of ‘Hot Red’.     -   3. Sepals of sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are         more undulate than sepals of sterile flowers of plants of ‘Hot         Red’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HIFIR’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘HIFIR’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the autumn in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 22° C. and lightly levels were about 4,000 lux. Plants of the new Hydrangea were pinched one time and were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants are not typically “blued” (treated with aluminum sulfate).

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘HIFIR’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, patent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Hydrangea macrophylla, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, patent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Hydrangea macrophylla, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About one             month at temperatures about 19° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright, broadly outwardly spreading             and mounding plant habit; flattened globular in overall             shape; strong and sturdy stems; moderately vigorous growth             habit and moderate growth rate; about six months from             propagation are required to produce a finished flowering             plant.         -   Plant height.—About 29 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 45.9 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about 15             lateral branches per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development.         -   Length.—About 13.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 4.6 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Aspect.—About 60° from vertical.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.         -   Luster.—Moderately glossy.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 144A to 144B.         -   Color, fully developed.—Close to 199B to 199C.         -   Lenticels.—Density: Sparse to medium. Length: About 1.5 mm.             Width: About 0.5 mm. Color: Close to 200C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 8.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 7 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Coarsely serrate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Slightly rugose,             glabrous; semi-glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Moderately rugose,             glabrous; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A; venation,             close to 144A. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close             to 138A; venation, close to 146D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             144A to 144B. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy rotate sterile flowers and             small, inconspicuous rotate fertile flowers arranged on             mophead-type terminal panicles; panicles flattened globular             in shape; sterile flowers face upright to outwardly and             fertile flowers mostly upright.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—In the garden, plants flower             continuously from the late spring to late summer in The             Netherlands; flower dormancy can be broken by giving a             two-month cold treatment.         -   Flower longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; sterile             flowers maintain good substance for about six weeks on the             plant, sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers last             about one week on the plant, fertile flowers not persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 175             sterile flowers per panicle and about 60 fertile flowers per             panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 9.2 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 14.2 cm.         -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About             1.5 cm. Shape: Broadly cup-shaped. Color: Close to 63A;             distally tinged with close to 179A.         -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 2.5 mm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Lighter than 148D             tinged with close to 76B.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 3.6 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 9 mm.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 3.5 mm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 3 mm.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a             single whorl. Length: About 1.75 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm.             Shape: Broadly ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 77B; towards the             margins, close to 76C to 76D; color does not change with             development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 70C to 70D to lighter than 70C to 70D; color does             not change with development.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 3.5 mm. Width: About 2 mm.             Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to N77B; towards the apex, base             and margins, close to N155B; color does not change with             development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 145C tinged towards the margins with close to 70C;             color does not change with development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically             four, occasionally five, in a single whorl. Length: About             1.7 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Broadly rhomboidal to             roughly deltoid. Apex: Abruptly acute. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire to slightly serrate; moderately and coarsely             undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Close to 63B; distally, close to 63A to 63B. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 63C. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 53C slightly tinged with close to 58A; with             development, color becoming closer to 178B strongly tinged             with close to 146C. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             63C; with development, color becoming closer to 177C to 177D             tinged with close to 147C.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 1.5 mm. Width: About 1 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 144C. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144C; color does not change with             development.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter:             About 1.25 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About             30° from peduncle. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to 70C.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 10°             from peduncle. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color: Close to 154D.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: Eight. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color:             Close to 76D to lighter than 76D. Anther shape: Broadly             oblong. Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to             155A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155A.             Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower: Two. Pistil length:             About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close             to 73D. Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to             73D. Ovary color: Close to 150D.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: Eight. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color:             Lighter than 145D. Anther shape: Broadly oblong. Anther             length: About 0.75 mm. Anther color: Close to 150D. Pollen             amount: None observed. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower:             Typically three, occasionally, two. Pistil length: About             1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 73D.             Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to 73D. Ovary             color: Close to 150D.         -   Seeds.—To date, seed development has not been observed on             plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Under commercial production conditions,     plants of the new Hydrangea have been observed to tolerate Powdery     Mildew (Erysiphe friesii var. friesii) and Botrytis (Botrytis     cinerea). Plants of the new Hydrangea not been observed to be     resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Hydrangea plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown     to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘HIFIR’ as illustrated and described. 